Bengaluru, February 27: Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader E. Narayanaswamy criticized the state government on Friday, alleging that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has betrayed the Madiga community, which has been fighting for internal reservation for 35 years.
He claimed that not only the Madiga community but Dalits across the state have also been misled. According to him, the issue of internal reservation has confused 101 castes, and the government has provided misleading information to youth seeking employment.
Narayanaswamy pointed out that Tamil Nadu has implemented 69% reservation under Article 9, providing strong support to marginalized communities. He accused the Congress-led government in Karnataka of lacking the interest and will to effectively advocate for internal reservation in the High Court and Supreme Court.
He questioned the use of public funds for surveys and commissions, asking whose interests are being served. He labeled the government’s failure to discuss internal reservation a significant shortcoming, especially a year after the Supreme Court’s decision.
He stated that the government has created confusion regarding internal reservation by dismissing reports from Justices Sadashiva, Madhuswamy, and Nagmohan Das. Although a bill was passed in the Assembly and sent to the Governor, the matter remains pending.
Narayanaswamy demanded that if the Chief Minister, Dalit ministers, and the 54 legislators elected from Scheduled Caste reserved seats are genuinely committed to Dalits, they should resign. He expressed concern that despite having 54 legislators from Scheduled Castes and Tribes, they remain silent on this issue.
He questioned why Dalit ministers do not voice their concerns in cabinet meetings and why they continue to hold ministerial positions if they cannot speak out. He announced plans to initiate a movement and called for the Chief Minister’s resignation.
He highlighted that there are approximately 280,000 vacant government positions in the state, prompting job-seeking youth to protest. He alleged that in a recent cabinet meeting, the government misled Dalits and protesting youth by deciding to restore the old reservation system.
Narayanaswamy stated that if the government were genuinely committed to social justice, it could legally exceed the 50% reservation limit as outlined in the Indra Sahani case. He cited examples from Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, where 58% and 57% reservations have been implemented, respectively, while the Karnataka government has failed to present strong arguments in court.
He emphasized that the Madiga community and its sub-castes, which have been among the most marginalized for decades, are fighting for internal reservation. He reminded that the Congress party had promised to implement internal reservation upon coming to power.
He accused the Chief Minister of misleading the public by presenting himself as a champion of social justice. He also referenced the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench decision on August 1, 2024, which granted governments the authority to provide internal reservation and special provisions for socially and economically backward communities, in line with the spirit of the Constitution created by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
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